The Star-News

Husband to stand trial for murder

The husband of a woman who was insulted at a South Bay party when a guest told her husband she looked like "a tasty piece of meat" was ordered May 5 to stand trial for murder.

Witnesses at the party were called to testify in the preliminary hearing of Oscar Israel Sarabia, 34, who is charged with killing Mariano Alvarez who died Oct. 14, 2007, from a single stab wound to the neck which punctured his jugular vein.

Witnesses differed on the translation of the words Alvarez, 34, used when he put his arm around the chair where Laura Sarabia was sitting and made a comment about her to her husband.

William Nimmo, who represents Sarabia, said in San Diego Superior Court the words Alvarez said in Spanish meant "a tasty piece of meat."

But others said the words used suggested the wife looked like "a hottie" or "very good looking" or "very pretty."

The party was held by relatives at a house east of National City and close to Paradise Hills. The husband apparently directed Alvarez to step outside the house where he drew a knife and stabbed Alvarez's throat.

Oscar Sarabia fled to Mexico after the slaying and was not arrested until December of 2009.

Laura Sarabia testified she felt very uncomfortable in meeting Alvarez whom she said got too close to her and put his arm around her.